Sounds of a booming city: Defektors

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      When the Defektors released the single “Torn to Pieces/No to the Nite” last fall, Vancouver’s DIY music community nearly squirted in its pants. A killer slab of Wipers-style punk, complete with doom-and-gloom lyricism and just the right amount of pop punch, the record will undoubtedly spark frantic eBay bidding wars 20 years down the line. While lead singer Ben Phillips is stoked about the rave reviews the trio has garnered, he seems much more comfortable singing the praises of his hometown than hearing others gush about his band.

      Best local release other than yours
      “Modern Creatures’ self-titled LP is awesome. That song ”˜Thick Thick Black’ is one of my favourite songs. I think Nikki [Hebert] is one of the most talented songwriters in Vancouver. Her music is really dark and she has awesome melodies.”

      Most mind-blowing concert of the year
      “The Pierced Arrows show [Biltmore Cabaret, August 7]. Seeing those guys on-stage was a total honour. It was awesome. That guy [singer-guitarist Fred Cole] has a song on Nuggets—he’s been making relevant music since the ’60s!”

      We just found Bruce Allen’s platinum card. Where are we eating?
      “Toshi Sushi [181 East 16th Avenue]. They have good sushi, the best salmon sashimi in town, in my opinion, and the tuna tataki is fucking fabulous. There’s really no way to avoid the lineups, so what I do is go around the corner and have some drinks if the lineup looks more than 15 minutes.”  

      With apologies to Katy Perry, who would you like to wake up in Vegas with?
      “If I woke up in Vegas with anyone in White Lung, it would be great. Actually, if I woke  up with the whole band and there was a bed-in and we were all playing acoustic guitars, now that would be great!”

      We’re going to a desert island. What record are you bringing?
      “If I went to a desert island, I’d be going out of my mind if I only brought one record, but I’d probably take the Stooges’ Fun House—pretty obvious choice, but it’s just the greatest record ever made. The beginning of ”˜T.V. Eye’, when Iggy Pop starts shouting, ”˜Lord’”¦the saxophone solo all over the second side—it’s just an awesome record.”

      The city has given you a blank cheque. Where are we opening a live-music venue?
      “The Smilin’ Buddha [109 East Hastings Street]—I think it’s a shame that it’s closed. It looks like the kind of place I’d want to play a show; I like more seedy-looking, trashy bars. It would give the city a fifth venue.”

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